Afterathoroughwashup,which included shower sex, Fink and Sydney filled the fireplace with logs and used their blood-soaked clothes as kindling.With her head in his lap, covered in cozy blankets, she’d fallen asleep while he stroked her hair.
Staring at the dancing flames, Fink’s mind wandered.He should rest as well.They’d had a long evening, and he was tired, but he couldn’t drift off to dreamland.There were too many unsolved variables bouncing around in his brain.
The biggest one being the woman in his lap.
Sydney had the drive, the tenacity, and the perversion to succeed in his business.The missing component was the connections.He supposed she could go off on her own and be a vigilante.Though, most of the time, people who picked up that hobby used vengeance as fuel for their mission.As far as Fink knew, there were no wrongs Sydney had endured that required her to seek justice by her own hand.
Besides, murder wasn’t exactly a lucrative pastime.He’d seen her bank account.She needed to make money.Her nest egg wouldn’t last long.
He sighed and let his head drop against the back of the couch as he pinched the bridge of his nose.He couldn’t let her fall into poverty.She’d been a huge part of this plan.He’d split the contract with her—evenly.His cut anyway.Even Steven was fair.That should help her stay afloat for a while.
Vrr.Vrr.
Right on cue.
From the side table, he swiped the vibrating burner phone and brought it to his ear.
“Impressive,” AJ complimented without a greeting.“It’s been a long time since you’ve put on such a display.”
Fink shrugged as though his handler could see him.
“The money should hit your account within the next few hours,” AJ explained.
Fink nodded, offering a barely audible grunt in acknowledgement.
“AnycomplicationsI should be aware of?”
Glancing down at the lightly snoring woman, Fink resumed running his fingers through her damp, tangled tendrils.“Everything went smoothly.”
“What did you do with the woman?”
“Nothing.”
“You trust her to keep quiet?”
“Yes.”
There was no reason to lie to AJ.If Fink wanted their relationship to remain productive and profitable, keeping secrets from him wouldn’t be the way to go.He wouldn’t come right out and say Sydney remained with him unless his handler asked.Any qualms about Sydney were moot.They’d killed effectively together.The person who hired him was happy.What was the harm?
Though the longer AJ remained silent on the other end, the more Fink sensed his answer wasn’t good enough.
He might as well set his plan into motion.There was no use in delaying it.“You’re going to have to send another phone.”
“I thought you said there weren’t any issues?”AJ questioned.
“There weren’t.”
“What’s wrong with this one?Is it compromised?Had it too long?”
Fink shook his head.“No.It’s fine.”
“It’s for the woman,” AJ speculated.
“Yes.”Still no reason to lie.
AJ sighed heavily on the other end of the phone.“Listen.I get it.”
Fink highly doubted it.
